Photography Composition - 12 Composition Rules for Your Photos to Shine By James Carren

Happy Accidents
You know the feeling. It’s one of those days where you actually have the time to go out
and shoot, the weather is perfect for whatever it is you’re trying to do, and yet you can’t
seem to get a single picture that you set out to get that day. Try as you might, photograph
and rephotograph, nothing’s working out and you’ve missed out on so many good shots
that you’re discouraged. Then, as you’re walking away frustrated, you see something that
might be good and you kind of haphazardly point your camera up at it. And there you
have it. A perfect, dynamic, beautiful fluke. Despite this, maybe you even use it for class
or a show, knowing that nothing about it was purposeful. Everyone loves it and praises
you for it, and you never have the heart to tell the truth.
Well, how do we learn from those photographs that are flukes and learn how to take good
photos with consistency? It starts with two things: Firstly, examine what it is that you love
about the photo and try to figure out why. Maybe write down your thoughts for future
reference. Is it the color? The texture? The subject? The way the subject is positioned
within the frame? Are there interesting patterns or lines within the photo? Secondly,
recognize that those are all elements of design, and go out and see if you can potentially
replicate the favored photo. The next time you go out shooting, see what elements of
design you can notice and intentionally capture around you. In order to not get
overwhelmed, it may help you to pick one element to focus on. For example, go out one
day with the intention of noticing leading lines in scenes. The next day, go out and look
for juxtapositions in color, whether they are similar or complementary. If you practice in
this way, it will become like second nature to you and over time, your photographs will
become stronger.
You also have to learn to be honest with yourself, and if need be, harder on yourself, when
it comes to the editing process. A lot of times, when I see badly composed photos in
portfolios, it’s not because the person doesn’t realize that the photo is bad. It could be for a
lot of reasons, like: the person is particularly emotionally attached to the subject of the
photo. They love it for sentimental reasons, or because it was their first photo, or of their
grandmother, etc. and they know it’s not strong and can’t bear to part with it. Or, they
know it’s not strong, but it’s the strongest shot they had and they haven’t yet had (or won’t
have) an opportunity to take another. As your knowledge and competence of composition
increases, you’ll be more and more picky, which over time makes your portfolio stronger
and stronger.